[Relation between the intensity of low-angle equatorial reflections of x-ray diffraction patterns of frog skeletal...

Dependence of the intensities of low-angle equatorial reflections from frog live resting sartorius muscle on sarcomere length between 1.95 micron and 3.1 micron were studied in stretch and shortening regimes. It is found that intensities of the (10), (20), (30) and Z-reflections increase at sarcomere length increase from about 2 micron, reach maximum value at sarcomere length between 2.3 micron and 2.7 micron, and then fall at further increase of the sarcomere length. The (11) and (21) intensities decrease at sarcomere length increase. A conclusion is drawn that tetragonal lattice of the thin filaments near Z-line gives essential contribution to Z-reflection together with Z-line. It is proposed that hexagonal lattice of A-band and tetragonal lattice of the thin filaments distort each other at sarcomere length less than 2.3 micron and have the most order at sarcomere length between 2.3 micron and 2.7 micron. At further increase of the sarcomere length the packing of both lattices deteriorates apparently due to other factors than in the case of the short sarcomere length.